Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Unraveling the Knot (1)
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“What the hell is that look, Senior?”
Heo Ok wore a look of utter bewilderment at the sight of Cheon Binghwa standing before him.
Unlike when she set out on her mission, the pristine neatness she always maintained—not a speck of dust allowed—was nowhere to be seen.
Her disheveled hair was tangled with grass and leaves in places, her dirt-caked clothes torn in spots. Most shocking of all was her left arm, dangling limply below her shoulder, soaked in blood as if she'd been gravely wounded.
“What the hell are those guys? Did you figure out who they are?”
Cheon Binghwa's voice trembled slightly as she asked. It was so unlike her usual self that Heo Ok couldn't help but grow even more suspicious.
“No. But there's one thing I'm sure of.”
“What's that?”
Cheon Binghwa asked as she secured her dangling arm with a strip of cloth.
“The one who brought them here is Gwa Yu.”
“Gwa Yu?”
She tilted her head, as if the name didn't ring a bell.
“The previous Forest Lord's youngest son.”
“Oh, that brat? He's still alive?”
“Apparently so.”
“He must've come for revenge against his father's killer.”
“Probably.”
“How the hell does a kid like that know masters like them?”
Heo Ok flinched at Cheon Binghwa's mutterings.
“Masters... you mean?”
“Masters, alright. Ones I've never encountered before.”
Cheon Binghwa slowly recalled the recent events.
At first, it had been mere curiosity.
Curiosity about which bold fools would dare attack the Blood Forest headquarters head-on.
When she confirmed they'd easily breached the traps and effortlessly subdued the assassins forced into combat, that simple curiosity turned into thrilling excitement.
The rush she only felt when staking her life on a mission—it had been so long since she'd last experienced it. Intoxicated by the sensation, she fearlessly approached the intruders.
She'd witnessed the tense standoff between Mooeop, who had recently been making a name for himself, and one of the intruders.
She unleashed her killing intent at the intruder in the standoff. It was just a simple test to break the deadlock. After all, the one right in front of her wasn't worth her interest anyway.
When the intruder, focused solely on his opponent, startled in surprise, her intent had succeeded.
But in that instant, a sudden blast of palm wind sent her recoiling in horror. Even as she twisted away, her left arm shattered. That's when she realized her grave mistake.
There hadn't been just two people in those woods.
Only after her left arm was utterly destroyed did she sense the presence of yet another person.
Without a second thought, she launched herself away.
The assassin instincts that had kept her alive all these years screamed warnings like mad.
She fled in a blind panic, her memory of how she escaped a blur. It was only after running for a good while that she realized no one was pursuing her.
“If I'd been at full strength, could I have escaped?”
Heo Ok reacted sharply to her mumble, like a lament.
“Pardon?”
“Never mind. So, what's your plan now? Let me be clear—they're no ordinary masters.”
“We have to hold them off somehow.”
Heo Ok gritted his teeth.
“The elders are moving too?”
“Yes.”
After a moment's thought, Cheon Binghwa spoke in a low, steady voice.
“We need to activate the Cloud-Mist Binding Phantom Formation. It's our only hope.”
“What do you...”
Heo Ok gasped at the mention of the Cloud-Mist Binding Phantom Formation.
The Cloud-Mist Binding Phantom Formation encompassed the entire Ox Mountain range centered on the Blood Forest headquarters—a vast array spanning an immense area.
Over thirty years ago, Zhuge Hon, the black sheep of the Zhuge family known as the Heavenly Brain, had been saved by the Forest Lord of that time in a moment of mortal peril. In gratitude, he installed this terrifying ultimate formation.
Once activated, the Cloud-Mist Binding Phantom Formation could not be broken from within by any means. Back then, skeptical elders had mocked its power, so Zhuge Hon demonstrated by activating it as a show.
The result? In just one day, forty Blood Forest assassins either took their own lives or killed each other.
Despite the catastrophe, the Forest Lord held Zhuge Hon blameless. They had gained an absolute shield to protect them in any situation.
Moved by the Forest Lord's attitude, Zhuge Hon revealed the methods to activate and deactivate the formation, as well as how to move freely within it unaffected by its effects.
These three secrets became the Blood Forest's greatest treasures.
The activation and deactivation methods were passed only to the Forest Lord's direct lineage, while the safe path—the vital route—was known to a select few elite assassins.
“Only a handful can properly use the safe path. Everyone we send against them will be at risk.”
“The elders know it. Some of the top-grade assassins do too. If we fight head-on, that level of loss is nothing. We'd be worrying about total annihilation.”
“Everyone who can activate the formation is dead. You know that, right?”
Heo Ok vented his frustration, but Cheon Binghwa paid it no mind.
“The current Forest Lord probably knows.”
“He was the Lord's brother, but they weren't on good terms. No way he'd tell him.”
“You must not remember from childhood, but he was originally the heir. He lost out to his younger brother due to a fatal mistake. He trained as heir for years, so he knows.”
“Even if that's true, he won't just listen.”
“When the Blood Forest is on the brink of destruction? Sure, given his recent antics, he might play crazy and refuse. But what's there to worry about? We've got this.”
Cheon Binghwa tapped her head and laughed.
Heo Ok was speechless at how casually she laughed, despite having the Soul Binding Gu implanted in her head just like the Forest Lord.
“So go activate the Cloud-Mist Binding Phantom Formation now. Or we all die.”
In an instant, her smile vanished, and a chilling killing intent poured from her eyes.
Typically, those harboring the Soul Binding Gu feel an instinctive pressure before one who controls it, holding back their own killing intent without realizing it. Even if they overcome that pressure and show hostility, they dare not act on it—knowing full well the agony it would unleash.
But Cheon Binghwa didn't give a damn about such pain. She unleashed her killing intent without hesitation.
'She even seems to enjoy the pain. Crazy bitch.'
Recalling her face—grinning even as she writhed in torment, rolling on the ground—sent chills racing across his skin.
“Hold up.”
Sima Geon suddenly halted and shouted, causing the group trailing him to stop dead.
“What's wrong, boss?”
Cheol Woo stepped up beside Sima Geon and asked.
“Something's off. The atmosphere around us has changed subtly.”
Sima Geon scanned their surroundings with a grave expression.
“Now that you mention it, yeah, it's weird. And what's with this fog?”
Cheol Woo frowned at the mist slowly rising around them. He too instinctively sensed something ominous.
“It's not natural fog.”
“If it's not natural, then?”
“Someone created it artificially.”
“Artificially made fog? You mean that's poss... Damn it! Son of a bitch!”
Cheol Woo naturally thought of the Ghost Gate Clan—and the hellish memories from that time.
“I-it's the Cloud-Mist Binding Phantom Formation!”
Gwa Yu cried out in horror.
“What's that?”
“It's like their final bastion against intruders. Anyway, it's an extremely dangerous ultimate formation.”
“Don't worry. As I said earlier, formations like this are...”
Cheol Woo, brimming with confidence moments ago, clamped his mouth shut.
A Blood Forest assassin was charging at them, bellowing like a beast.
But his condition was bizarre. His eyes spun wildly, drool spilling from his mouth—no one would call that normal.
“Why's he acting like a madman?”
“From what I heard from my father, anyone caught in the Cloud-Mist Binding Phantom Formation's illusions goes insane like that.”
Gwa Yu recalled what his father had told him.
“So they activated this Cloud-Mist bullshit knowing their own guys would die too? They trying to take us all down with them?”
“There's a safe path immune to the formation's effects. They know it. Though only a few do.”
“What about you? You know it, right?”
Gwa Yu nodded at Cheol Woo's question.
“Not everyone, but I know enough. Especially the route from here to the headquarters—I'm certain of that.”
“Perfect. Sure, we could smash through by force if we had to, but why take the hard way when there's an easy one?”
Cheol Woo flexed his shoulders needlessly as he spoke.
But his usual confidence was absent from his tone. His words sounded fine, but he knew better than anyone it wouldn't be that simple.
“I'll take the lead.”
p>“You sure you can manage in your condition?”
Neungjeon, who had been supporting Gwa Yu until now, asked with concern.
“I have to. I will.”
Gwa Yu stepped forward, shouting as if affirming himself.
“From the moment the fog rolls in, all sorts of illusions will assault us. So from now on, don't lose sight of my footsteps, no matter what.”
“You said there are assassins who know the safe path?”
Sima Geon asked, placing Gwa Yu ahead of him.
“Yes. Elite assassins and those specially trained for it.”
“They'll probably come at us. No matter what happens, stay calm. Ignore them and trust me. You just guide us right.”
“Got it.”
Gwa Yu nodded vigorously.
A few words were all it took to steel his resolve. His absolute trust in Sima Geon calmed his racing pulse, born of fear and tension.
Gwa Yu took a deep breath, scanned his surroundings, then slowly closed his eyes.
The detailed map of Ox Mountain etched in his mind unfolded like a painting.
He'd trained extensively as a child to find the safe path, but real combat experience was scarce. Even that had been under his father's strict supervision—safe simulations. This was his true first time.
Tracing the route in his head, Gwa Yu opened his eyes and took a cautious step forward.
Behind him came Sima Geon, Manchu, Neungjeon, and Cheol Woo in that order. Heukrang flanked right behind Neungjeon.
They'd barely taken a few steps when the fog drastically narrowed their visibility. They could scarcely make out the person ahead's head.
The first attack came from assassins lost to the illusions, their minds broken.
It wasn't a calculated ambush. Sima Geon's group simply approached assassins who had lost their wits to the formation's visions, swinging their blades wildly.
That was reason enough to attack. To them, anything moving—except themselves—was the enemy.
As Gwa Yu froze for a split second, a calm voice came from behind.
“Don't stop. Keep moving.”
Just as Sima Geon instructed.
A dozen or so assassins charged madly, but not a single one got close.
Gwa Yu confirmed it as they crumpled like ragdolls—tiny holes in each of their foreheads. He couldn't help but shudder anew at Sima Geon's prowess. Any lingering doubts about his instincts were swept away.